All metal shaft seal



April 25, 1961 H: JENSEN 2,981,558

ALL METAL SHAFT SEAL.

Filed Sept. 25, 1958 3 37 ZUFEH/UF HAM/5 JUL/55V 44 35 Unite States Pater1t-' ALL METAL SHAFT SEAL Hans Jensen, Wheeling, Ill., assignor to Gits Bros. Mfg. -Co., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 763,313

3 Claims. (Cl. 286-11.14)

ing a sealing face engage with a sealing face carried b the other of the elements. i

In such seals, it is necessary to provide for relative axial movement of the support ring relative to the element which carries the same, while at the same time 2 the cylindrical surfaces of the ferrule and support ring is obtained at a point adjacent the terminal edge of the cylindrical portion of the ferrule.

According to anotherfeature of the invention, the support ring is displaceable within limits in directions transverse to the axis thereof and is urged. by the ferrule to a position intermediate the limits. Thus the ferrule performs va centering function, and also this feature insures uniform engagement of the cylindrical surfaces.

According to a further feature of the invention, the cylindrical portion of the ferrule extends in a direction such that the cylindrical surface thereof which is not engaged with the cylindrical surface of the support ring, is exposed to fluid from the zone of high-er pressure, so as to increase the pressure between the cylindrical sealing surfaces.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, a cartridge construction is employed, with the support ring being disposed between coaxial inner and outer walls of a support member, one of the walls being supported either from the wall element or the shaft element, and

t the ferrule being'secured to the other of the cylindrical providing a seal therebetween. It has heretofore been erating temperatures and liquids and gases result in rapid.

deterioration of the 'elastomeric material or change its physical properties to cause it to malfunction i w This invention was evolved with the objectof provid ing-an improved seal of the type described above, using an all. metal connection. between the support ringand the element carrying the same, to maintain a properseal while at the sametime allowing relative axial movement.

According tolthis invention, a seal is provided. between the support ring and the element fromwhichit is supported, in the form of a :ferrule of thin resilient metal.

having an annular planar portion transverse to the axis of the support ring and a cylindrical portion lprojectingy integrally from oneedgeqof the planar portion. The planarportion is secured tothe element whichcarries the support ring, and one surface of the cylindrical portion is engaged with a cylindrical surface on the support ring.

With this comparatively simple; construction, it is found to be possible to maintain a proper seal while allowing relative axial movement of the support ring.

Because of the use of metal elements, the seal, is extremely durable and will withstand extremely high temperatures and temperature changes, astiwell as agreat varietyof liquids and gases.

fully apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustratepreferred embodiments and in which:

effective to prevent flow from a high pressure zone on one. side of the wallelement 11, the left-hand side as t Figure l'is a partial sectional view through one preferred form of shaft seal constructed according to the.

principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view through another 7 preferred form of shaft seal constructed according to the principles of this invention; and

Figure 3 is a iew showing a sealing element in unstressed condition,prior to assembly in the seal of Figure 1 or the seal of Figure 2. a

Reference numeral 10. generally designates a' seal as=f s'embly constructed. according to the principles of this invention, and disposed between a wall element 11 having an opening lltherethrough and a shaft element 13 extending through opening 12, the seal assembly 10 being viewed in Figure l, to alower Jpressure zone'on the other side thereof u a j The assembly 10 comprises a support member 14 having inner and outer coaxial cylindrical walls 15 and16 .with an annular radially extending wall. 17 between ad- According to an important feature of the invention;

- the cylindrical portion of the ferrule is maintained in. firm engagementwith the-cylindrical surface portion of thesupport ring by the inherent resilience of the ferrule.

In accordance with. this feature, the cylindrical portion jacent end of walls 15 and1 6, the outer wall 16 being 15; and 16, and carries a sealing ring 19 having a sealing face 20 arranged to engage a sealing face 21 of a ring 22 'carriedby the shaft 13. The sealing ring 19 may preferably be formed of carbon or a similar sealing and' lubricating material. t i

The carrier or support ring IStogether with the sealing'ring 19 area'xially shiftable relative to the wall element 11, to .accommodatetaxial shifting movement of a .shaft 13 onto accommodate we'ar ofthesurfaces 20,. 21: g

compressionspring 23, preferably in the form of a; p wave washer spring. is provided between the radialwall- 1 1,17 and one end'o'f. the support ring 18,10 mainta in the se alirigifacesv 20321 and pressure engagement while t cornmodating such axial shifting movement. To prevent tr yqftheg a rie j 1 f l 1 d i Patented Apr. 25,1951

' by welding, brazing or soldering.

with one or more axially extending peripheral, slots,

which receive one or more inward indentations 25 in the outer cylindrical wall 16.

The-wall element; 11 may include a flange-portiotn 26 se ure y n or m re. bolts; 27 to;a.-wa1 1;element:28; and y have a p nl? fittedzwithin aniop ninajin the; wall element 28, withthe portion. 29 serving'to hold an outer race 36; of a, ball bearing assembly 31;withi n; a;

recess 32, of the element 2.8; The illustrated bearing 3lhasan inner: race 33 held on the shaft 13, by the r ing;22,, the ring 22 being held in position by a sleeve 3,4:engaged by a nut 35 threadedon the end, of the shaft 13. The. wall element 11 has an inwardly extending; portion 36 abutting the radial wall 17 to hold the assembly-19, withg inthe wall elementll,

Itis necessary to provide a sealbetween the 'carrierror. supportring 18 and the supportrnember 114 whileaccommodating-relative axial shifting; movement thereof, Ac,- cording to this invention, a seal is provided comprising a. ferrule; 37 formed of thin" resilient metal and including anannular planar portion 38, and a cylindrical portion 39 projecting axially fromthe outer edge of the planar portion; 38. The outer surface of the generally cylindrical portion 39 isin sealing engagement with an internal cylindrical surface 40 of the carrier or supportring 18 The planar portion 38 is supported from the inner cylindrical wall 15" of the support member 14; In particular, the wall 15 is provided with a radially extending surface 41 facing in the same direction as the direction in which the cylindrical portion 39 extends. The planar portion 38 of the ferrule maybe fixed to the surface 41 In the alternative, or in addition, a clamping. arrangement may be used including a washer 42 engaging asurface of' the planar portion 38 which faces in the same'direction as the direction in which the cylindrical portion 39 projects. The washer '42 surrounds a cylindrical surface 43 of the wall 15 and wall 15. Thereafter, the flange 44 is bent radially outwardly to the illustrated'position.' It will be noted that the inner surface of the flange 44, together with the surfaces 41 and 43 define an annular groove receiving planar portion 38 and washer 42; Y a

t Figure 3 shows the ferrule 37 in: unstressed condition prior to installation in the assembly '10. Itwill be noted that in the unstressed condition, the generally cylindrical portion 39 has a slightly frusto-conical shape, totextend annularly outwardly from the planar portion 38 to a terminal edge indicated by'reference numeral 45;- The terminal edge 45 has a diameter'larger than the dia'meter 'ata point 46 at which portions 38 and39 adjoin,-and

thediameter at the terminal edge 45 'should be substantially larger than? the diameter of the internal cylindrical surface 44) of the support ring 18. With this feature, the

I inherent resilience ofthe ferrule 37 urgestthe outer surface of the portion 39 into engagement with the surface '40. To obtain 'extendedsurface engagement, the diameter atthe point 46 should be approximately equal to the diameter of the surface-40. I

It will be noted that ,in Figural, the portion 39 'of the;

s aman;

theouter, surface of the wall 15 being spaced from the surface 40, the outer surface of the ring 18 being spaced inwardly from the inner surface of the outer wall 16, and the inner edge of the slot 24 being spaced inwardly from the inner edge of projection or indentation 25. The ferrule urges the support ring 18 to a centered position intermediate such limits, tov thus provide a floating action. Also, this relationship insures uniform engagement of the cylindrical portion 39-with the surface 40 through 360; 7

It shouldfurtherlbenoted that the radial surface 41 of the wall 15 should. provide, sufficient backing for the planar portion 38, to prevent distortion of the ferrule.

As illustrated, the surface 41 should have'a radial extent equal to and coextensive with the radial extent of the portion 38. The radial extent of the washer 42 need not be as great as the radial extent of the planar portion 38, but is, preferably atileast one-half of the radial extent of, the portion 38, to insurethat the portion 38 ,will befirmly held,

For example, if the position of the shaft-13.

must move-to the; right to maintainsealing engagement. betweenffacesjZO, 21. This condition is obtained. whenthe algebraic sum of the force exerted by the spring 23 and any net force exerted by fluidpressure, on surfaces ofjthe support ring 13 and sealing ring 19 (such as exerted onzsurface 47 of ring 19, for example) is substantially greater" than the, product of two values, one value being-"the coefficientof; friction between surface 40, and; the external surface of portiqn139, and the other, value;

being the sum of theaforce; exerted on the portion 39: by the inherent resilience ofthe ferrule and a force substantiallyequal tov the product of-the. pressure exerted upon an area of'the internal surface: of portion 39. Preferably, very smooth surfaces are'ernployed.v

Figurea2 illustrates a modified arrangement, in which the'position'of the ferrule 37 is reversed so. that theinside surface of the generally: cylindrical portion 39thereof:i$ exposed to fluidsfromtthe zone at the right-hand, side of the wall element 11,-the.=zone at the right-handsideibeing in thiscase under high pressure, with the zone of the left-hand side being under lower pressure In this modification, all'ofjthe elements are the same as in the assent: bly of Figure 1; except for the'use of amodified washer 42' and atmodifiedinner, wall 15 having a flange. 44f.

The'was'her 42- has a radial extent substantially equal to and coextensive with the planar portion of the ferrule 37;

toprovide proper. backing therefor. The modified inner wall 15 extends further to the right than the wall 15in ferrule 37' proiectsto the right, so that theinner surface thereof exposed'to'the fluid fromthezotre at thelelft hand side, of the ,wall elementllfwhichisfat" a higher also notedtha'tthe suppo ring 18 isfree to m f. in" direetionsjttr'ausve'r's e toithef-axrs 'the re of," within limits:

Figure; l, in a-manner such that the cylindricalfportion 35 of theferrule engages a' central portion of the, internal cylindrical surface 40 of'the carrier or support ;ring.'18. 'Also, theexternal diameter of the inner wall'15' issomewhatless-than that offthe wall 15 of Figure 1, to provide clearance for the-cylindrical portion 39 of the ferrule.

It will be understood that modifications'and variations may: be effected without departing from the spirit-and scope: of the noveleoncepts of this invention. Iclaimasmy-inventionr 1 q 1. A secondary seal for use in 'a shaft seal having a support member and a relatively axially movable'tmema'nnularferrule of thin resilient metal having an annular planar portion {for positioning transverse to the, axis of r V a-shaft element and having a, resilient generally j'cylindri inn er r cylind'fic calzporti'on projecting" axially (from vone edg'e f ofl said planar portion, a support member,- means ator-rigidly I securingsaid planar portiori to said support lniember an'd'airelativ'ely axially 'movable outerkinerriberfihai ingt an a t fl sui'fac e fin close-sliding'enga'gement'with the outer surface ofJsaid"cylindrieal portibn 'ojf; the ferrule a shaft, the secondary seal comprising a continuous an nular ferrule of thin resilient metal having an annular planar portion for positioning transverse to the axis of a shaft element and having a resilient generally cylindrical portion projecting axially from one edge of said planar portion, a support member having a cylindrical wall with a radial surface engaged by one face of said planar portion, a Washer engaging the other face of said planar portion, an integral flange on said support member crimped into engagement with said washer to firmly hold said planar portion between said washer and said radial surface of the cylindrical wall, and a relatively axially movable outer member having an inner cylindrical surface in close sliding engagement with the outer surface of said cylindrical portion of the ferrule and supported radially thereby and said ferrule and said movable outer member maintained in firm sealing engagement by the inherent resilience of said ferrule.

3. A secondary seal for use in a shaft seal having a support member and a relatively axially movable memher with a sealing face for engagement with a sealing face on a shaft, the secondary seal comprising acontinuous annular ferrule of thin resilient metal having an annular planar portion for positioning transverse to the axis of a shaft element and having a resilient generally cylindrical portion projecting axially from one edge of said planar portion, a support member having a cylindrical wall with the planar portion of the ferrule mounted on said wall, means for securing said planar portion to said wall, and a relatively axially movable outer member having an in her cylindrical surface in close sliding engagement with the outer surface of said cylindrical portion of the ferrule and supported radially thereby and said ferrule and said movable outer member maintained in firm sealing engagement by the inherent resilience of said ferrule.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 224,695 Johnson Feb. 7, 1880 671,551 Halsey Apr. 9, 1901 1,378,109 Hecht et a1 May 17, 1921 2,226,273 Westerfeld Dec. 24, 1940 2,316,059 Fretter Apr. 6, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 205,228 Australia Jan. 3, 1957 205,749 Australia Feb. 1, 1957 1,122,075 France Aug. 31, 1956 

